• Allete's employees and retirees pledged $305,910 to United Way during the company's annual fall payroll pledge drive. In addition to the pledges at Allete and its subsidiary companies, Minnesota Power; Superior Water, Light and Power; Allete Clean Energy; and BNI Energy, another $250,000 was contributed by Minnesota Power Foundation. The contributions plus other corporate gifts and special employee fundraising events brought the total Allete contributions to $580,975 for United Way.

• Duluth East hockey teams held a food and donation drive for CHUM food shelf during the Perkins Hockey Frenzy on Dec. 23. They collected approximately 268 pounds of food and raised $521. That is enough to provide food for two full months at the food shelf.

• Kiwanis Club of Friendly Duluth donated $300 to Duluth Library Foundation to be used toward the purchase of new furniture in the library's renovated youth space. They also donated $500 to Lakeview Christian Academy's Grandma's Garden by the Lake, which will be used toward the construction of a raised garden to teach youth about fresh produce and the importance of making healthy food choices.

• Superior Choice Credit Union donated more than $13,000 to area food programs. Donations included: $2,500 sponsorship of the Thanksgiving Day Buffet at the DECC; $7,750 to Northwest Wisconsin Community Services Agency Food Bank; $1,160 to Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank; $1,550 to Brick Ministries food shelf in Ashland; and $650 to Brick Ministries food shelf in Mellen.

EDUCATION NOTES

• University of Wisconsin-Superior was named among the 2018 Best Online Bachelor's Programs by U.S. News & World Report. They scored well in student engagement and student services and technology areas. UWS has been offering online bachelor's degree programs since 1997-98.

• Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College received a $3,000 scholarship from the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas Education Foundation to train students for careers in the marine industry. The scholarship funds will be awarded to one or more WITC-Ashland marine repair technicians students this spring.

LEARNING NOTES

• Ryan Oster of Mahtowa graduated with a doctor of chiropractic degree from Northwestern Health Sciences University. Oster earned Dean's List recognition for his academic achievements during nine terms at Northwestern and was the recipient of the McKiernan Scholarship. Oster plans to work at Anderson Family Chiropractic in Superior.